Dispensing funnel for sealed containers



May 10, 1938. e. A. WALKER 2,116,918

DISPENSING FUNNEL FOR SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY y 1938- G. A. WALKER 2,116,918

DISPENSING FUNNEL FOR SEALED CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNFY Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED STATES DISPENSING FUNNEL FOR SEALED CONTAINERS George A. Walker, Saugus, Mass, assignor to Dover Stamping and Manufacturing Company, Cambridge, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 27, 1933, Serial No. 704,147

7 Claims.

Oil for use in the crank-case of internal combustion engines and other lubricating purposes is sold by some manufacturers in sealed containers so that a purchaser may be sure that he receives the product he orders.

This use of sealed containers, however, necessitates that .a container be opened when the oil is to be removed therefrom, and it is therefore highly desirable that a simple and quick means he provided. for opening a sealed container when its contents are to be delivered to an engine crank-case or other receptacle.

The present invention therefore relates to a liquid dispensing device or funnel adapted to receive a sealed liquid container and having a cutter associated therewith for cutting a hole in the container through which the liquid may flow, and one important feature of the present invention resides in a dispensing device or funnel provided with a cutter that is constructed and arranged to cut an oil discharge opening in a side wall of the container near an end thereof.

This arrangement whereby the cutter cuts a hole in a side wall of the container renders the container unfit for further use in selling oil, so that danger of the original container being refilled with an inferior oil and sealed up to be sold is avoided.

Another important feature of this invention resides in a lever associated with the funnel and operable to cause the cutter to cut a hole in the container.

Still another feature resides in means associated with the funnel and adapted to be adjusted to facilitate the use of the cutter upon different size containers so that one funnel may be used to dispense oil from different size cans or containers.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts in addition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate good, practical forms thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of funnel constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of. a modified construction.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the lever supporting means of Fig. 2.

4 is a side View of a can or container which has been opened in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 2 but shows another modification.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an end view of an adjustable stop used in the construction of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the stop of Fig. '7 and its support.

While the liquid dispensing devices or funnels of the present invention may be employed for diiferent purposes, they are designed more particularly for use in delivering lubrication oil to the crank-case of an internal combustion engine. These engines are commonly provided with a tubular neck or fill opening through which oil may be poured into the crank-case.

The funnels illustrated are therefore provided with a converging body portion ID, to the inner converging end of. which is secured a tubular spout II and the discharge end of the spout is preferably curved downwardly as at I2. The funnels may be formed of sheet metal and each body portion I0 is provided with an outwardly flaring entrance opening adapted to receive a sealed oil container I3. The outer edge of the funnel is preferably strengthened by bending the same around a reinforcing wire I4 to form. the beaded edge I5. i

The present invention, as above pointed out, contemplates a construction whereby an opening fordrainingoil from the container I3 is formed in a side wall of the container near an end thereof. The body portion I0 is therefore provided with a fiat side wall I6 upon which an end of a container may rest when the container is placed in the funnel to occupy a position at substantially right angles to the spout as will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2. The cutter is located within the funnel in spaced relation to the wall I6 so as to cut a hole in a side wall of the container near its lower end as indicated by I! in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the cutter is rigidly secured to the wall I6 and comprises a V-shaped blade I8 having extending upwardly therefrom the cutting edges I 9, and the cutter is supported in spaced relation to the wall I6 by the offset base that is secured to the wall I6 by the bolts 2|. In this construction the container I3 may be forced against the cutter to form the drain opening I! by striking the container with the hand as will be apparent from Fig. 1.

In the modification of Fig. 2 the construction is substantially the same as in Fig. 1 except that a hand-operated lever 22 is provided to force the container against the cutter. The lower end of the lever 22 is pivotally secured by a pivot pin 23 to the bifurcated end of a bar 24 which may be secured by rivets. 25 to the lower face of the wall I 6. An intermediate portion of the lever 22 has projecting therefrom a laterally extending curved portion 26 adapted to engage a curved side wall of the container as the lever is moved in a right hand direction to force'the container against the cutter I8.

In the construction of Fig. 1 and that of Fig. 2

the cutter is fixed and the container is forced against the cutter, but in the construction of Figs. 5 and 6 which will now be described, the cutter is movably supported and is adapted to be forced against the container. To accomplish this the cutter 21, as will be apparent from Fig. 5, is pivotally secured by a pivot pin 28 to the lower end of a lever 29. This lever projects upwardly through a slot 30 formed in the upper wall of the body portion Ill, and is pivotally secured thereto by the pivot pin 3| supported by a block 32 secured to said upper wall. The construction is such that as the lever 29 is moved in a clockwise direction its cutter will pierce the container l3 as will be apparent from Fig. 5. A spacing plate 33 secured to the wall I6 holds the end of the cutterZl spaced from the wall 16 so that it will no'tdrop down beneath the container.

It is important that means be provided for preventing theco'ntainer 13 from moving outwardly as the cutter 21 is forced against it and this is accomplished in the construction shown by providing a stop for the container opposite the cutter 21. The stop shown comprises a block 34 mounted upon a bar 35 secured by rivets 36 to the under face of the wall l6, and a spacing strip 31 is provided between the bar 35 and wall Hi.

The block 34 is shown as slidably mounted upon the bar 35 to accommodate different size containers 13 as will be apparent from Fig. 6, and means is provided for securing the block 34 in different positions of adjustment along the bar 35. This is accomplished by forming spaced drill holes 38 in the bar 35 adapted to receive the end of a locking bolt 39that projects into the barreceiving passage 40 formed in the block 34. This passage is cut away beneath the bar 35 as at 4| so that the block 34 may be rocked upwardly upon the bar 35 sufficiently to disengage the bolt 39 from a hole 38 so that the block may be adjusted to a difierent position. A blade spring 42 secured in the passage 40 yieldingly holds the bolt 39 in-a hole. The block 34 is preferably provided with the V-shaped portion 43 adapted to engage the curved surface of the container l3 and hold it against lateral displacement during the cutting operation.

' The dispensing device or funnel of the present invention is supported in an inclined position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 when in use, and it therefore follows that if a hole is made in a side wall of the tilted container near its lower end as shown, the entire supply of oil will quickly drain from the container into the funnel.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

i. A liquid dispensing device for sealed containers, comprising a body portion adapted to receive a portion of a container and provided with a discharge spout, a cutter movably supported within the device, and manually operable means for forcing the cutter against the container to cut a hole in the latter through which the liquid may drain.

2. A liquid dispensing device for hermetically sealed containers, comprising a container-receiving body portion having side Walls and a bottom wall projecting to form a seat for the lower end of the container, a spout projecting from said body portion to discharge liquid therefrom, said body portion being so constructed that the sealed container when seated as aforesaid will occupy a position at substantially right angles to said spout, and a cutter supported adjacent said wall and constructed and arranged to cut a drain hole in a side wall of the container near its lower end while the container is supported by said projecting wall in a liquid dispensing position.

3. A liquid dispensing device for hermetically sealed containers, comprising a container-receiving body portion adapted to catch the liquid as it drains from the container and having a bottom wall projecting to form a seat for the lower end of the container, a discharge spout projecting from said body portion, said body portion having its container-receiving opening so shaped that the sealed container when seated upon said bottom wall will occupy a position in which its longitudinal axis lies substantially at right angles to the spout, and a cutter constructed and arranged to cut a drain hole in a side wall of the container near its lower end while the container is supported by the body portion in a liquid dispensing position.

4. A liquid dispensing device for hermetically sealed containers, comprising a container-receiving body portion adapted to catch the liquid as it drains from the container and having a bottom wall projecting to form a seat for the lower end of the container, a discharge spout projecting from said body portion, a cutter supported adjacent said bottom wall and constructed and arranged to cut a drain hole in a side wall of the container near its lower end while the container is supported by said wall in a liquid dispensing position, and a lever associated With the body portion and operable to cause the cutter to pierce the container.

5. A liquid dispensing device for hermetically sealed containers, comprising a container-receiving body portion adapted to catch the liquid as it drains from the container and having side walls and a bottom wall projecting to form a seat for the lower end of the container, a discharge spout projecting from said body portion, a cutter rigidly mounted in said body portion near said bottom wall to cut a drain hole in a side wall of the container near its lower end while the container is supported by said wall in a liquid dispensing position, and a lever associated with said body portion and operable to force the container against the cutter to pierce a hole in the container.

6. An oil dispensing device comprising a body portion having an open side, a handle attached to said body portion, a spout connected to the body portion at the side opposite the opening, a support within said body portion for a container, said body portion and support being shaped and positioned so that the container placed in said body portion and resting on said support will have a portion thereof projecting from said body portion, and a cutter located within said body portion and having a piercing point disposed relative to the support so as to pierce the side wall of the container body adjacent the end seam for forming a dispensing opening therethrough.

7. In a can opener, the combination of a body, for supporting a can in inclined position, provided with a discharge spout, an outlet cutter fixed in said body in position to engage the side wall of the can adjacent its lowest angle, and a manually operable lever, connected with the body, for engaging the can and pressing it downwardly against said cutter.

GEORGE A. WALICER. 

